The Amazing Spiderman and a Middle Earth Reboot

S

Shelob'sAppetite

Valinor
Recently in another thread, there was some discussion of the possibility of LOTR and/or Hobbit film remakes happening in our lifetimes. The most common view expressed is that since LOTR was so commercially and critically successful, it is not likely that a major studio would be inclined to revisit Middle Earth in the next half a century. Leaving aside the very strange logic implicit in such a view, the recent reboot of the Spiderman franchise so amazingly soon after the previous set of films, covering much of the same ground, seems to fly in the face of this perspective. The very strong opening Box Office numbers for the new Spiderman film seem to vindicate that decision.

The major difference between the two franchises is, I think, that negotiating the rights to adapt Tolkien's work is a more arduous process...

Otherwise, the success of The Amazing Spiderman might give WB or other big studios the idea that a Middle Earth reboot would be financially worth it sooner rather than later.

I, for one, would welcome it.

What say you?
 
but by all accounts the Amazing Spiderman seems to be a pretty good movie, whereas (at least in my opinion) the previous trilogy was not, by a longshot. That's the difference I think, and it's the same with the Hulk reboot not so long after Ang Lee's disaster.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was brilliant, a winner in terms of its quality as a film, as well as at the box office. In all honesty, the Spiderman trilogy was not. So why do a reboot of an fantastic trilogy loved by millions the world over mere decades after the release of the original? There is no reason to.
 
Last edited:
but by all accounts the Amazing Spiderman seems to be a pretty good movie, whereas (at least in my opinion) the previous trilogy was not, by a longshot. That's the difference I think, and it's the same with the Hulk reboot not so long after Ang Lee's disaster.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was brilliant, a winner in terms of it's quality as a film, as well as at the box office. In all honesty, the Spiderman trilogy was not. So why do a reboot of an fantastic trilogy loved by millions the world over mere decades after the release of the original? There is no reason to.
Click to expand...
 
LOTR and the Hobbit are owned by the studios Star Wars and Indiana Jones are owned by Goerge Lucas (or at least star wars is) and look how many times Lucas has repackaged and tweaked it to re-release those films... A bunch. I think what SA is saying is that if the studio feels it is in THEIR best interest, not the fans who love Jackson's films, theirs and theirs alone they will remake them for all they are worth. Thats just the way Hollywood is now days and above all else Jackson does not own any of the rights the studio does

I also would welcome a different take on LOTR and the Hobbit if offered...

and just to add the Amazing Spiderman wasn't half bad I quite enjoyed it
 
Last edited:
There is no comparison....the previous spidey trilogy is a collection of predictable, hollywoodish, boring, vulgar, see once never see it again, teenage oriented, basic movies...

Something you could watch on a sunday afternoon when its raining, theres nothing better on and you dont want to finish that paper your due to deliver on monday so spidey movie sounds fantastic [laugh]

Lotr is the best fantasy movie of all time, a universally cinematic hit , critically acclaimed and revered and loved to this day and for a thousand years to come , long after that spidey trilogy has disappeared from collective memory....

That being said it could be fun to watch another vision of middle earth...although i dont think, with the money it takes to create middle earth, any director or studio , creating some kind of independent artsy film trilogy ...or a more of a The New World , nature sounds of the forest, slowly paced type of film...unless there was a minimalistic approach to it...hmm but that wouldnt work...

And who would play Gandalf? De niro?[;)]
 
Last edited:
You stated:

There is no reason to.
Click to expand...

Really? Absolutely NO reason? How about the legions of Lord of the Rings fans (both books and films) that would all likely flock to see another take on the epic story? How about an almost guaranteed Box Office success story? There are myriad reasons, many of them financial, for revisiting Middle Earth.

On a personal level, I would like to see LOTR adapted again primarily because I did not find PJ's films particularly satisfying. In fact, I didn't like them very much. As such, I want a different director, with a sensibility closer to mine, to direct a new set of films.

But I'm not talking personal rationale - I'm talking about financial incentive. Three new LOTR films, led by different writers and directors, with different actors, and perhaps even filmed in a different place, would in all likelihood, if created with even a shred of competence, make loads and loads of money.

And while I personally thought the Spiderman films were very subpar, they had a massive following. Such a rapid "reboot" was questioned by many of that following, but that clearly has not prevented it from being a Box Office smash.

In short, there are very solid reasons for a Middle Earth reboot. And I bet we'll see one sooner rather than later. Perhaps even in the next 15 years...
 
Last edited:
About an independent artsy film trilogy?

Alfonso Cuaron, my preferred director, has produced some big budget hits, including Prisoners of Azkaban and Children of Men. He would be a great choice.

In any event, I see your point about the differences in critical acclaim, though it's not a strong one, IMO.

Let's take, for example, all those people who loved and adored the LOTR films, and generally think PJ is great.

Are you really telling me that those people will not go watch another three Lord of the Rings films, with different actors and directed by someone else?

The truth is, LOTR and Hobbit remakes would likely be enormously successful, provided that they were made by a highly skilled director, and weren't Dungeons and Dragons-esque failures. Not only that, most people would be absolutely delighted to revisit Middle Earth again!

Lastly, why not? Why exactly would one object to this?
 
it's all about PJ's 2 hobbits movies at the moment, you're definitely excited and so am I. If there are middle earth reboots then they won't be made for decades so no point thinking about them now.
 
Sorry, but are you having a laugh? Even with the financial benefits, I would not only eat my hat, but my entire wardrobe if WB rebooted the trilogy 25 years after it's release. Look at it this way, can you imagine Citizen Kane, the Godfather Trilogy or Schindler's List being remade? I certainly can't. Some movies demand the respect to be left alone by the prospect of a reboot, and I think LOTR is a member of that club, certainly while the people who poured their heart and soul into the production are still living.

Contrary to popular belief, I think there are still some things that are sacred in Hollywood.
 
Last edited:
predictable-often
hollywoodish-very much so
boring-never
vulgar-occasionaly

I cannot see a reebot any time soon, say 20 years at least, but my opinion is prejudiced by my long time affection for Tolkiens work and the fact that once upon a time these movies seemed an impossibility, by this I mean once something of this magnitude has been done, it is done and I cannot see it being made again. This is how I feel about the movies, there is a greatness and uniqueness that cannot soon be repeated despite what I see in my opinion as their failings, amongst their many successes.

And I am probably undersetimating the corporate greed involved.
 
Last edited:
You didnt say it, but i often get that idea from comments i read...

Maybe Alfonso Cuaron would be a good choice maybe...he certainly is a gifted director...

Of course they will watch it..i WOULD...

But many great deal of people would say: this again? I have seen it already...why pay good money to once again see frodo in the shire..then the hooded creeps come along, then that bum who is king emerges from the sewers of that village, then the counciil, then trolls and the shall not pass scene, the elves yada yada yada....

Thing is, for us it wuld be fun to watch because we love the books, but..i have some doubts on how great the majority of the audience's wish to see it again would be...even if its deniro as gandalf, that twilight vampire dude as aragorn and its been shot in the alpes and ireland ...
 
long before this generation of LOTR: Movie fans has become old and doddery.

I find the Spider-Man reboot so soon after the previous film to be a cynical return to the fan money-trough*, rather than anything to do with creativity.
* Yes, I know, movie studios are in the business to make money. However the motives behind the new Spider-Man movie are so blatant as to be distasteful.

However returning to LOTR: Given the expense in making the trilogy in the first place, I believe the studio suits would look hard at whether such an outlay would be worth it. They got a huge return the first time around: Would the goose lay a big enough golden egg for a repeat?
 
PJ and team got the Hobbit because they successfully pulled off LOTR so well.
Not many people can or would be willing to risk one upping them as far as quality and especially financially.
I think its safe.
Heck, look at the Wizard of Oz almost 75 years and nobodies copyed that yet in an actual film.
 
Predictable? The fantasy is predictable...its a good guys versus bad guys story where the hero never dies and the ugly minions and his dark lord perish in the end at hands of the pretty white wearing good guys...

Na, its wellywoodish [;)]

Vulgar? Maybe three or four moments...certainly not as a defining characteristic...that eragon movie transpires vulgarity through every pour...

I agree i think they have unique characteristics which cannot be repeated ...its a particular combinations of these actors, and skilled workers, and the country NZ at a particular point in time never to be repeated again...

the more i think about it...the more i think its better if its not done...i mean, no chris lee? no howard shore? no ian holm? no ian mckellen? no sean astin? no cate blanchet or viggo? no weta? ...annnn...at least for some time, these are the faces and music of middle earth and it could be difficult to sell people something else...
 
But I do not believe the LOTR films are, or will be, placed on the same pedestal as those films. They were critically successful, by many standards, but that's going a little far. While adored to death by many in fandom, they are seen by most critics as simply "pretty good fantasy films, with more intelligence and depth than expected." Many fantasy-avoiding critics were waiting for utter foolishness, and didn't get it. That does not mean they will reach the AFI's top 100 anytime soon. But again, that's just my opinion.

The more important point is: Will studios see a reboot as a worthwhile investment? I think they will, given the right conditions. The textual material, generally consistent with (though in important ways, not consistent with) solid film formulas that began with Star Wars (archetypal characters, heroic quests, and other Joseph Campbell-esque staples) has proven itself ripe for filmic adaptation, and Box Office success.

I would be more surprised if a studio DIDN'T make such an investment in the next 20 or so years, than if they did.

And as long as it is done respectfully, and by competent artists, I would welcome someone else's vision. There are a lot of different ways to tell this story, and I would be quite curious to see a different result.
 
You mean, PJ's LOTR films are safe?

I don't quite understand that sentiment. PJ's films are safe, no matter what. They exist, lots of people like them, etc.

Why would a remake in any way threaten them? Or, to address others in this thread: Why would a remake be in any way disrespectful to PJ and crew?

PJ does not have a monopoly on interpreting Tolkien for the cinema-going world. If anyone else attempts it, they will need to be respectful to Tolkien, and conscious of maintaining the integrity of his work. They shouldn't have to think for a second about "what PJ might think."

In fact, I bet if you asked him, PJ would be delighted to hear that some other director was giving it a shot. I bet he'd wish that director luck, and even offer a few words of advice!

There's no sense in feeling threatened by other creative interpretations of Tolkien. As long as they are not utter trash, we should embrace the attempt.
 
you just don't remake classics, and LOTR's (all three films) are without a doubt classics. There is just no way they will be remade, you can't put the genie back in the bottle.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top